CIBC targets U.S. markets for growth

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $116 (Toronto symbol CM; Income-Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 399.6 million; Market cap: $46.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.cibc.com) is Canada’s fifth-largest bank with assets of $513.3 billion. LISTEN:   With the April 2017 payment, CIBC will raise its dividend by 2.4%, to $1.27 a share from $1.24. The new annual rate of $5.08 yields a high 4.4%. In the latest quarter, dividends accounted for 42.8% of the bank’s earnings before unusual items. That’s in the lower half of its payout target range of 40% to 50%. In the past few years, CIBC has focused on its main Canadian retail banking operations. That business now supplies 58% of its earnings. The bank gets a further 31% from its capital markets business. It provides brokerage and related services in Canada, the U.S. and other countries. The remaining 11% comes from…